Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on September 8, 2012 by lmharnisch

Sept. 8, 2012, Mystery Photo

Here’s another photo from the collection of Steven Bibb!

Sept. 8, 2012, Mystery Photo

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Playwright Clifford Odets Held for DUI

Posted on September 8, 2012 by lmharnisch

Sept. 8, 1942, Comics
Sept. 8, 1942, FDR Plans Price Controls

Sept. 8, 1942:Playwright Clifford Odets of 8729 Lookout Mountain Ave. is arrested on charges of drunk driving and speeding on Roosevelt Highway (Pacific Coast Highway) at Topanga Canyon.  CHP officers say Odets refused to stop until they forced him off the road.

Lani Nelson wins the title of Miss Car Hop of 1942 in a contest in which judges were seated in cars.

Accountant Lawrence J. Murphy is accused of trying to kill his wife by closing up the house and turning on the gas. She fled to a cousin’s home, where Murphy allegedly threatened her with an ice pick.

Saying that he “hated women,” chemist Gregorio Cardenas Hernandez, 27,  tells Mexico City police he killed four women and buried them in shallow graves at the back of his home.

“Across the Pacific”opens tomorrow at Warners’ downtown and Hollywood theaters.

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Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Stage, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

James Curtis: L.A. Voices – Jules White, Part 5

Posted on September 5, 2012 by lmharnisch

 

James writes: Here’s another of those interviews I did during a random burst of energy in 1975. This one took place a couple of weeks before my previously-posted talk with Dick Lane, and my memory is that this one is probably a bit better because of the range of topics it covers.

JAMES CURTIS:Getting back to Harry Langdon, what was the reason Langdon came to Columbia?

JULES WHITE:It’s a very strange story. Harry Langdon had become a big star. So big that he was so imbued with his own importance that he became a very difficult man to live with. Frank Capra, who had made Harry Langdon, wouldn’t even talk to him. He got the reputation of being a louse—temperamental, discontented, argumentative, hard to live with. Can’t do this. So, nobody wanted him. His popularity had waned. I don’t know how his last few pictures were financially; I guess they were not too good. Because you know that the public is fickle. They’ll find a new sweetheart every day, and the old sweetheart can go fly a kite. So it was with Langdon. So it was with Charley Chase—although Chase wasn’t temperamental. He just had hit a spot in his life where his films were not in demand.

I had a writer. He was a man who originally got Langdon and Capra together. His name was Arthur Ripley. Arthur Ripley was a brilliant, brilliant man.

James Curtis’ interview with Jules White, Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

James Curtis’ interview with Dick Lane Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

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Posted in Film, Hollywood, James Curtis, L.A. Voices | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: 48th Annual Cinecon Part 2

Posted on September 4, 2012 by lmharnisch

image
Photo: “Palace of Silents,” a documentary on the Silent Movie Theater.

Cinecon 48 featured several surprises. The Nicholas Sisters opened the festival by performing with their relatives, and Bert Wheeler’s granddaughter made an appearance. Another excellent surprise on Saturday was the moving documentary, PALACE OF SILENTS, which tells the story of Los Angeles’ Silent Movie Theatre. The production features great interviews, cinematography, and music as it reveals how John and Dorothy Hampton built and lovingly ran the theatre, the theatrical days under Laurence Austin and his tragic shooting, the revival under Charlie Lustman’s ownership, and its current days as the Cine-Family. Hopefully the filmmakers can line up distribution for this fine film.

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Posted in Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Eve Golden / New Queen of the Dead

Posted on September 4, 2012 by lmharnisch

 

constance_bennett

A photo of Constance Bennett has been listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $18.75.

 

The New Queen of the Dead

No, I have not died and been succeeded by the Princess of the Dead. But I found that the four-obits-a-week thing was getting stale, and I was just churning them out. Not fair to me, or Larry, or my Gentle Readers (if indeed there are any out there—c’mon, people let’s hear some comments!).

I will still mention, from time to time, notable passings, but I want to use one of the few 21st century innovations I approve of—YouTube—to highlight performers of note (or, sadly, not enough note). When I was a young tot [you may insert joke here about the McKinley Administration], I could tell people about, say, Winnie Lightner or Skeets Gallagher, and receive blanks stares. I still receive blank stares—a lot of them, actually; do you think it’s me?—but now I can send people YouTube links, and they either politely pretend they have watched them (and I know who you are) or e-mail back, “OMG, I loved that, am forwarding it to my friends, and am Googling Skeets Gallagher as we speak!”

So for the next few weeks—or months, if your approval is met—I’d like you to meet and greet some old friends. I’m going to get the ball rolling with

Constance Bennett

(1904 – 1965)

Connie Bennett was one of those actresses—like Joan Crawford—who was so high-octane glamorous that people never gave her any credit for her considerable talent. She was from a famed theatrical family and was herself a movie star by the age of 20. She was serious about her art—I interviewed her delightful son, Peter Plant, ages ago and he assured me that she studied her scripts, was always on time and yes, really thought about her characters. But unlike Bette Davis, James Cagney and others, she did not fight for good roles. So today on TCM we mostly see Constance Bennett starring in a lot of turgid crap.

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Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , | 25 Comments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead – Moving to Tuesdays

Posted on September 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

Eve has decided to change the approach of Queen of the Dead and it seemed like a good time to move her to Tuesdays, so starting tomorrow be sure to check on Tuesdays for the new Queen of the Dead feature with Eve Golden, who will debut with a post on Constance Bennett.

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: 48th Annual Cincecon

Posted on September 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

"Hot Water"
Photo: Harold Lloyd in “Hot Water,” shown at Cinecon.

The 48th Annual Cinecon Film Festival is almost over in Hollywood. Once again, the festival features classic silent and sound films, many of which have not been seen in theatres since their original release. So far this year, there have been few Los Angeles or Hollywood locations visible in  the films. Here is the roundup for Thursday through Saturday.

Thursday night, August 30 started off with a bang when the Nicholas Sisters, the granddaughters of wonderful dancer Fayard Nicholas of the Nicholas Brothers dance team, copied a dance their grandfather and great uncle were performing on screen. An energetic way to start the evening. This was followed by the musical short ARTISTRY IN RHYTHM (1944), with Hollywoodland resident Stan Kenton leading his really big band and singers in a variety of numbers, this was hip and swingy.

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Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Nirvana Apartments

Posted on September 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

May 19, 1940, Nirvana Apartments

A few months ago, a friend and I were walking up Orange Drive from the El Capitan Theatre to the Hollywood Heritage Museum and noticed a striking Japanese looking apartment building at 1775 N. Orange Drive. It featured a pagoda-style roof and carved dragons under the eaves. After reading the historical-cultural monument plaque on the front, I decided to investigate more about the history of the building.

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Posted in 1925, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated +++]

Posted on August 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

Aug. 30, 2012, Mystery Photo

Here’s another photo from the collection of Steven Bibb!

All three identified (plus the movie) by Don Danard, Dewey Webb, Mike Hawks and Eve Golden. Plus Mary Mallory.

2/3 right: (Mary Mallory), Jo Anne and Gregory Moore,

Mystery fellow on left identified by Gary Martin, Harried Costumer, Arye Michael Bender,
Sarah and Rick Scott.

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Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , | 24 Comments

Found on EBay – World’s Largest Soda Fountain

Posted on August 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

fosgate_soda_fountain

This postcard of the soda fountain at Fosgate’s store, at 449 S. Broadway, has been listed on EBay. A May 14, 1904, story in The Times called it the largest soda fountain in the world. Bidding on the postcard starts at $6.

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James Curtis: L.A. Voices – Jules White, Part 4

Posted on August 29, 2012 by lmharnisch

 

"Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"
Photo: The Senate chambers in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” was redecorated as a palace for a Three Stooges film.

James writes: Here’s another of those interviews I did during a random burst of energy in 1975. This one took place a couple of weeks before my previously-posted talk with Dick Lane, and my memory is that this one is probably a bit better because of the range of topics it covers.

JAMES CURTIS:Would you find yourself using existing sets many times?

JULES WHITE: All the time. I say, “All the time.” I dare say ninety percent of the sets I used were other sets, butwe would alter them. The way sets were built, they were made in units. So where you had a door unit you’d exchange it with a window unit so it was a little different. And walls are walls. Your dressing would be different; the way you furnished them would change them.

JC:If there was a major picture shooting at Columbia, like say a Capra picture, could you use the sets after they were finished?

JW:Well, you hit it exactly on the head. “Lost Horizon” sets—I took some of those and had them re-finished as Spanish sets because they had stones and pillars and columns and what have you.

JC:I saw a Keaton one time called “Pest from the West”–

JW:Yeah…

JC: –which took place in a Spanish setting. He played a lover who lived on a boat.

James Curtis’ interview with Jules White, Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

James Curtis’ interview with Dick Lane Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

 

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Posted in Film, Hollywood, James Curtis, L.A. Voices | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on August 27, 2012 by lmharnisch

2012_0827_mystery_photo

Here’s another mystery photo from the collection of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 27 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on August 27, 2012 by lmharnisch

hearse_1972_cadillac
Photo: A 1972 Cadillac hearse has been listed on EBay at Buy It Now for $4,200. (Note: it has a 472 engine in case you are in a hurry).

Queen of the Dead – dateline August 27, 2012

•   Phyllis Diller (who died at 95 on August 20) and Phyllis Thaxter in one week—Phyllises Coates and Newman must be looking nervously over their shoulders. Gosh, I loved Phyllis Diller—she was not the first female comic (Fanny Brice, Sophie Tucker, Belle Barth, Rusty Warren, Jean Carroll, Moms Mabley—even Gypsy Rose Lee, in her way, preceded her). But I adored her wonderful braying laugh (there are birds in Australia that sound just like her), her drag-queen persona, and her genuinely funny material (“I was in a beauty contest once. I not only came in last, I was hit in the mouth by Miss Congeniality.”) And I dare you to YouTube the intro to The Pruitts of Southampton. I have had that damn song stuck in my head since 1966. Watch it just once, and in 10,000 years when the archeologists dig up your remains, your skull will still be singing “How’dya do, how’dya do, how’dya do, my dear!”

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Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Music, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

30 Firefighters Escape Blaze in Box Canyon

Posted on August 24, 2012 by lmharnisch

Aug. 24, 1942, Comics

Aug. 24, 1942, Brush Fire

Aug. 24, 1942: Sheriff’s deputies break up a planned fight between the Lincoln Heights Square John gang and the Huntington Park Levis gang at Central and Florence avenues, arresting 17 members of the Square John gang (no members of the Levis gang were seen). Officers also “blockaded” 18 corners and arrested 52 youths on suspicion of robbery, auto theft and violating the Selective Service Act.

More than 30 firefighters escape being trapped by a brushfire by driving their trucks through a “30-foot wall of flame” in a box canyon in Angeles National Forest. District Ranger Ray McCormick is credited with saving the men, who were battling a blaze that began at the mouth of Spade Springs Canyon near Mint Canyon Highway, The Times said.

“Orchestra Wives,” starring George Montgomery, Ann Rutherford and the Glenn Miller band, is opening at Grauman’s Chinese and Loew’s State.

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Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Found on EBay: Tom Mix Witzel Photo, Newsboy Cap Edition

Posted on August 24, 2012 by lmharnisch

tom_mix_negative_flop

The negative of a Witzel portrait of Tom Mix has been listed on EBay. He’s wearing a rather remarkable jacket and check out the newsboy cap! Bidding starts at $9.99.

Posted in Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Witzel | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Angelina and Her Neighbors, Part 3

Posted on August 24, 2012 by lmharnisch

This is the third installment of Eve Golden’s cemetery photos.

Angelina and Her Neighbors, Part 1 | Part 2

Thomas 1914 1931_crop Theresa 1905 1929_crop
Salvatore 1891 1938_crop Salvatore 1879 1932_crop
Petrina 1867 1938_crop P Morgano 1904 1930_crop
Rosalia 1883 1964_crop Nancy 1921 1982_crop
Posted in Eve Golden, Photography | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Remembering Valentino

Posted on August 23, 2012 by lmharnisch

This is the 85th anniversary of Rudolph Valentino’s memorial service.  A program is planned at 12:10 p.m. Thursday at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Here’s a look at the various “Ladies in Black” that I did when the blog was at latimes.com.

Posted in 1927, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Remembering Valentino

James Curtis: L.A. Voices – Jules White, Part 3

Posted on August 22, 2012 by lmharnisch

 

image
Photo: The Three Stooges’ “Spooks,” produced and directed by Jules White.

James writes: Here’s another of those interviews I did during a random burst of energy in 1975. This one took place a couple of weeks before my previously-posted talk with Dick Lane, and my memory is that this one is probably a bit better because of the range of topics it covers.

JAMES CURTS:When you became the head of the short subjects department at Columbia, you began to assemble one of the finest directing staffs for two-reel comedies.

JULES WHITE:Yes.

JC:You had your brother, who operated under the pseudonym of Preston Black, James Horne, who did Laurel and Hardy comedies at Hal Roach, Del Lord, Clyde Bruckman, who had worked with Buster Keaton on some of his classic silent features, Harry Edwards. Where did you find these people?

JW: I knew them. Most of them had worked at Roach or Sennett. Del Lord had worked at Educational with us, and then he’d been at Mack Sennett’s for many years, and he went out of the business; he couldn’t get a job. He was selling used cars.

James Curtis’ interview with Jules White, Part 1 | Part 2

James Curtis’ interview with Dick Lane Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, James Curtis, L.A. Voices | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on August 21, 2012 by lmharnisch

Aug. 21, 2012, Mystery Photo

Here’s another photo from the collection of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on August 20, 2012 by lmharnisch

Horse-drawn hearse
This horse-drawn hearse has been listed on EBay at Buy It Now for $2,500 .

Queen of the Dead – dateline August 20, 2012

•  Cosmo Girl Helen Gurley Brown—who died at 90 on August 13—was not a heroine of mine. She pretty much single-handedly turned women’s magazines into the “Sixty Sexy Ways to Sex Up Your Sexy Sex Life!” crap we see on newsstands today. Back in the ’80s and ’90s—before everyone with a blog thought she was Carrie Bradshaw—I was able to earn a living (not a good one, true) writing and editing for magazines. I was even copy chief for More, one of the few really smart women’s magazines. But gee whiz, some of the whipped cream I had to slog through at the others! I wrote an article for one of the major mags—which shall go unnamed here—and the final edit read like something from a sugared-up 12-year-old girl’s diary. I was just about to ask them to take my name off it when the editor burbled, “I’ll bet you’re so excited to have your byline in this magazine!” Mind you, no one loves hair and makeup tips more than I do, and fashion, and society gossip. But let’s look at the cover of the June Cosmo, lying around my office: “Wild Sex Stories!” “50 Ways to be Sexy This Summer!” “Where to Meet a Guy in June!” “Pink: How She Keeps Her Love So Hot!” And for that we have Helen Gurley Brown to thank.

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Posted in Books and Authors, Eve Golden, Film, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments